Mental Health BENZO BACKLASH - Benzo withdrawal related anxiety.

[iampetrelli]

I was just curious to ask if anyone else has experienced protracted anxiety following benzodiadizipine discontinuation and if so how long this lasted and what has helped. I have never experienced anxiety this bad pre-benzos and have just completed a slow diazepam taper 1mg reduction every two weeks. I completed my taper and I managed nearly two weeks benzo-free but lapsed with a Xanax binge lasting 24 hours.

It's been nearly two weeks again and I'm experiencing horrendous anxiety and I don't want to repeat the binge episode. I'm worried I've set myself back but I know that using benzos will just repeated the viscous cycle.

Any advice or tips or experience would be very much appreciated! (I'm also on methadone 100mg and mirtazipine 45mg per day prescribed). Struggling with depression too - bleak suicidal thoughts. No plan but it's a bitch.

 

[herbavore]

I am truly sorry that you are suffering this. The best thing that you can do is to stay the course and engage in every non-drug therapy that may have some success with anxiety. It is not uncommon for people to go through this and so hopefully someone with experience will come along and be able to add more meaningful day-to-day strategies for you. Here are some things you can consciously insert into your thinking when you feel yourself getting anxious:

"This level of anxiety is not related to the situation. It is a result of my brain transitioning from benzo use. I can wait this out. Being uncomfortable is different from being in danger. I am not in danger and I can get through discomfort by using my own strengths."

The irony of this kind of self-talk is that it feels almost silly and somewhat artificial when you first do it but in the end, it is anything but silly. Learning to develop your own natural sense of ease in the world is doable. It means letting go of personal myths that undermine you, any societal or family expectations that do not jibe with your authentic self and it demands a lot of patience. Good luck and don't get discouraged!

 

[iampetrelli]

Thank you for your kind words <4 it is sometimes the basic things that are often overlooked which can have a drastic effect. Positive self talk is so important as we are used to being negative ourselves! The past couple of days have been so much better. I am also pleased to say that I did not give into temptation and feel stronger for doing so! Thanks again!

 

[F'Loki]

Thank's Herby I really needed this today.

And congrats impetrelli for getting off benzos! Its always so refreshing to hear a success story. I have been tapering for over a year now and just cannot seem to get off them completely - got down to something like 2mg at one point but now stuck on 25mg again and can't seem to taper effectively and ended up with an opiate habit on top that I got clean from about 3 weeks ago....I'm sure the PAWS you are feeling will fade soon.

Now it's just the benzos for me. I'm not taking anything else and am living a boring life of sobriety until at the very least I am off them lol

Thanks for the inspiration though. And try mindfulness meditation if you already haven't: It's great for virtually every problem. Focus on the positive days you have and remind yourself soon you'll feel like that all the time.

You are very lucky to be free. Stay positive.

F'loki

 

[trunkofmycar]

I was on benzos 6+ years (daily use) and completely stopped June 2016, and I still suffer from PAWS related anxiety attacks around 9 months later

:/

It does get better, very slowly, but you'll continue improving. I've been there.

Good luck, benzos were a bit harder to kick than I thought, and as time goes by I feel better & better that im free now